Post job

How to find a job with Specimen Handling skills

How is Specimen Handling used?

Zippia reviewed thousands of resumes to understand how specimen handling is used in different jobs. Explore the list of common job responsibilities related to specimen handling below:

  • Decreased errors in specimen handling by effectively operating as an interoffice liaison between providers, reference labs and clinics.
  • Follow laboratory technical procedures including specimen handling, analysis, quality control, and results reporting.
  • Communicated pertinent information to other members of the processing team to ensure proper specimen handling.
  • Follow corrective action procedures and documentation policies regarding specimen handling according to policy.
  • Maintain proper documentation including specimen handling, labeling and preparation of worksheets.
  • Collected and processed specimens while adhering to specimen handling protocol.

Are Specimen Handling skills in demand?

Yes, specimen handling skills are in demand today. Currently, 904 job openings list specimen handling skills as a requirement. The job descriptions that most frequently include specimen handling skills are laboratory aide, laboratory courier, and pathological technician.

How hard is it to learn Specimen Handling?

Based on the average complexity level of the jobs that use specimen handling the most: laboratory aide, laboratory courier, and pathological technician. The complexity level of these jobs is advanced.

On this page

What jobs can you get with Specimen Handling skills?

You can get a job as a laboratory aide, laboratory courier, and pathological technician with specimen handling skills. After analyzing resumes and job postings, we identified these as the most common job titles for candidates with specimen handling skills.

Laboratory Aide

Job description:

A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.

  • Patients
  • Specimen Handling
  • Lab Equipment
  • Phlebotomy
  • Cleanliness
  • Data Entry

Laboratory Courier

Job description:

A laboratory courier is responsible for transporting laboratory specimens, equipment, supplies, and pertinent documents in a clinic or a hospital. They need to ensure that packages will be delivered on schedule. Most of the time, they work in the field, so this position requires some physical skills. They need to travel to pick up needed items and deliver packages. Their job is risker than that of other couriers, since they need to handle packages with extra care, including keeping them in specific temperatures.

  • Hospital Lab
  • Cell Phones
  • Stat
  • OSHA
  • Specimen Handling
  • Lab Specimens

Pathological Technician

Job description:

Pathology technicians, or sometimes referred to as pathology assistants, are professionals who assist pathologists review specimens and tissue samples by utilizing microscopes and other complex lab equipment. These technicians are required to audit lab equipment in the inventory system and provide minor maintenance and calibrations on the lab equipment to avoid errors in test results. They are required to evaluate laboratory test results and record known control values from technical instruments to ensure reliability. Pathological technicians must also handle and organize blood samples taken for pharmacological studies.

  • Clinical Laboratory
  • Patients
  • Specimen Handling
  • Chemistry
  • Data Entry
  • Test Results

Senior Medical Laboratory Technician

  • Laboratory Procedures
  • ASCP
  • Microbiology
  • Specimen Handling
  • QC
  • Patient Care

Pathology Laboratory Technologist

  • Data Entry
  • OSHA
  • Specimen Handling
  • Medical Terminology
  • Laboratory Tests
  • Computer System

Accessioner

Job description:

An accessioner works at laboratories where they are primarily in charge of managing and organizing specimens, assisting scientists as needed. Their responsibilities include receiving and verifying samples, labeling and preparing specimens according to its purpose, updating databases, disposing of waste properly, and examining samples for any contamination. They may also answer client and staff inquiries, providing them with accurate information such as timelines and results. Furthermore, as an accessioner, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff and adhere to the laboratory's rules and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

  • Laboratory Specimens
  • Laboratory Analysis
  • Lab Tests
  • Specimen Handling
  • Patients
  • Data Entry

Laboratory Associate

Job description:

A laboratory associate's responsibilities revolve around preparing test samples and subjecting them into different examination processes for scientific purposes. Aside from performing extensive analysis, they are also responsible for recording data, reviewing findings, collaborating with other scientists, and producing various reports and presentations. A laboratory associate can work for an institution or private company; they may also choose to contribute their studies in different publications and research activities. Furthermore, as a laboratory practitioner, it is essential to adhere to all the laboratory safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

  • Patients
  • Specimen Handling
  • Phlebotomy
  • Chemistry
  • Customer Service
  • Patient Care

Medical Technologist-Microbiology

Job description:

A Medical Technologist-Microbiology helps in the detection and diagnosis of diseases and infections through appropriate laboratory analyses. They perform a wide range of virological, mycological, bacteriological, and parasitological tests to provide information on the causes and progress of diseases.

  • ASCP
  • Clinical Laboratory
  • Test Results
  • Medical Technology
  • Specimen Handling
  • Chemistry

Histotechnician

Job description:

Histotechnicians are clinical laboratory technicians who prepare thin body tissue samples by pathologists. The majority of the technicians work in hospitals or libraries. Among the duties they perform include special stains, filling slides and blocks, send-outs, and re-cuts. They execute routine and complex non-routine special stains like tissue and specimen cutting and embedding. It is also their responsibility to execute routine maintenance and calibrations of microscopes, automated slide strainers, and microtomes.

  • ASCP
  • Tissue Specimens
  • CLIA
  • Microtome
  • Specimen Handling
  • Laboratory Equipment

How much can you earn with Specimen Handling skills?

You can earn up to $28,083 a year with specimen handling skills if you become a laboratory aide, the highest-paying job that requires specimen handling skills. Laboratory couriers can earn the second-highest salary among jobs that use Python, $44,363 a year.

Job titleAverage salaryHourly rate
Laboratory Aide$28,083$14
Laboratory Courier$44,363$21
Pathological Technician$50,684$24
Senior Medical Laboratory Technician$54,289$26
Pathology Laboratory Technologist$41,812$20

Companies using Specimen Handling in 2026

The top companies that look for employees with specimen handling skills are Quest Diagnostics, Sonic Healthcare USA, and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. In the millions of job postings we reviewed, these companies mention specimen handling skills most frequently.

Departments using Specimen Handling

The departments that use specimen handling the most are healthcare, research & development, and administrative.

DepartmentAverage salary
Healthcare$54,286
Research & Development$47,243
Administrative$36,765